Gaza's Hamas-run civil defence announced that eleven people were killed, all members of the same family, after the bus they were traveling in was hit by an Israeli tank shell in northern Gaza.
The victims, from the Abu Shaaban family, were reportedly en route to their home for inspection when the tragic incident occurred in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City on Friday night.
This marks the deadliest incident involving Israeli soldiers in Gaza since the ceasefire began eight days ago.
The Israeli military stated that soldiers fired at a 'suspicious vehicle' crossing the so-called yellow line, an area still occupied by Israeli forces in Gaza.
Israeli soldiers are currently operating in over half of the Gaza Strip, as per the terms of the ceasefire agreement initiated recently.
Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal confirmed that the victims were killed while attempting to inspect their home. The deceased included both women and children, as reported by the civil defence.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) claimed the vehicle approached their troops in a manner that constituted an imminent threat, prompting them to fire warning shots before targeting the vehicle to remove the perceived threat.
Hamas has accused Israel of deliberately targeting the family without justification.
The IDF has consistently advised Palestinians against entering areas under Israeli control in Gaza.
With limited internet access, many residents are often oblivious to the actual locations of Israeli troops, as the yellow line is not physically demarcated, making it difficult to ascertain if the bus had indeed crossed into that area.
The BBC has requested the IDF for the coordinates related to this incident.
In related developments, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced that the army would establish visual signs to indicate the location of the yellow line to prevent future tragedies.
Additionally, Hamas released the body of Israeli hostage Eliyahu Margalit to the Red Cross, marking a significant but somber return, while tensions remain high regarding the broader issue of missing hostages and casualties amidst ongoing conflicts.
Since the outbreak of hostilities following the October 7 attacks, Israeli military operations have resulted in significant civilian casualties, with estimates showing at least 67,900 people have died in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, numbers recognized as reliable by the UN.
